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Scripture: Ephesians 1:3–14
Key Verse: “… even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before.” (Ephesians 1:4)
Have you ever felt anxious at the thought of not being picked or of being chosen last for a team? Being picked often feels like proof that we have worth, that we belong. Let’s be real here. People can be selfish and unreliable, so giving others the power to set our value or determine our place is a recipe for disappointment. If we do, instead of simply belonging, we find ourselves stressing out, performing just to remain part of the group.
News flash! Before the world’s birth, the Maker set his heart on you as the focus of his love. He was pleased to claim you, sight unseen, before anyone could ever compare you with others. Through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, the Father stood ready to give you a name and a home. You were born belonging. You can always know your standing with God.
But in his love, God places the decision to belong in your hands—how will you respond to this gift? Will you live a life that bears witness to God’s life, love, and acceptance, or a life of trying to measure up to other people’s expectations of what you should be, leaving you hungry for their approval? You were never an afterthought with God. You have always been on his mind.
Consider
What would be different in your life if you remembered that God knew everything about you and chose you anyway? Being chose “before the foundation of the world” speaks of something decided and fixed. Does this truth encourage you if you have failed or been wronged by others?
Practice
Begin a list titled “blessings of belonging” to God and to God’s family. (If you need help getting started, read Ephesians 1:3–14 again). Choose one or two of these blessings that speak specifically to your situation or a place of insecurity in your heart, and write a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Share your discoveries or prayer with someone who will rejoice with you.
Chat
Father, thank you for revealing in your Word who you are and what we mean to you. Create in each of us a greater desire for truth, and help us to live truthfully in our daily lives. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
